If DEMS had elected a Trump as the GOP did would they roll over like Republicans are doing? Why d'ya think so?

 I think it is far more true for Republicans Spunky. Here's why! Only 17% of the American people like Trumpcare. Yet McConnell/Trump/et al are trying to jam it down everyone's throats. It harms we the people grievously. The GOP legislators are so chickensh** they refuse to hold town meetings with their constituents. Those that do so get an earful. This is not a one-party thing.There massive is bi-partisan support AMONG WE THE PEOPLE for the Affordable Health Care Act. We just want it tweaked to make it better. Not repealed and have it replaced with a Draconian iteration. There are a small handful of pols who are sticking by what their constituents tell them. Susan Collins stands out! Rand Paul wants the bill to be even more cruel/worse so his being a holdout doesn't count. Now what example(s) can you provide to back up your assertion? What have the Dems tried to jam down the throats of their members that the members didn't like? I'm not saying that Dems are perfect. But the Democratic party does try to help people and not harm them.  The Democratic party does not do massive gutting of Medicaid simply to give billions of dollars in tax cuts to the already obscenely wealthy. I'm not trying to give you a hard time. I sincerely want to know why you think both Democrats and Republicans put party first! Thank you for your reply and Happy Sunday! :)

In all honesty, Rosie, when the Dems had the three branches of government, they shoved Obamacare down our throats.  Every Dem in lock-step voted for it and not one Republican.  Most of the Dems hadn't even read the bill, but they voted for it because they wanted to see themselves as the party of medical coverage for all.  If I recall correctly, Obamacare was not something the general public would have voted for if it had been put to a referendum.  Most people who are covered have insurance through their employers.  As a result of all the mandates of ACA, the 12% that I paid for my insurance premiums remained at 12%, but the premiums themselves went up considerably and we wound up with a high deductible plan.  That is not to say that I could have gotten a better deal for what my portion of the premium was if I was not in a group, but it did raise the premiums. 

Personally, I never felt that having insurance should be mandated by the government.  That is not something that the government should be involved in.  I understand that without ACA, many people were uninsured, but the cost to everyone else for this mandated insurance has increased in order to cover those without insurance and still the emergency rooms are filled with the same people the ACA was meant to cover.  The government could have covered those people by expanding Medicaid without it having to cost everyone else so much more.  ACA did not reduce premiums or the cost of medical care for most of us. 

I understand that ACA may well have benefited anyone with a serious disease that required expensive and ongoing medical care.  I don't believe people in that situation should have to go bankrupt in order to stay alive, but there has to be a middle ground.  The insurance industry has profits of $15 billion annually.  I can't even begin to imagine what the pharmaceutical industry rakes in.  If the government wanted to ease the burden on patients, it would negotiate prices with Big Pharma.  Medicare is the largest consumer of medications, yet the government - neither Republicans nor Democrats - will negotiate price reductions.  The Veterans Administration negotiates prices and the drug costs for veterans is minimal by comparison.  I'm not suggesting that vets should pay more, just that Medicare patients pay less.

Thank you for your thoughtful and comprehensive reply Spunky. I disagree with thee. I just read that many of the folks who were against the Affordable Health Care Act can't remember what it was they didn't like. They like it now. I think government should help the people. I think it is far better to do too much than do nothing or take away things people have come to depend upon to stay alive. So we disagree. So what, right? :)

I think what they didn't like originally was that no one voting on it's passage had read it.  They also didn't like the fact that it was mandatory.  Whether you choose to buy health insurance or not should be a decision you make, not one that the government makes for you.  I also think that we had been accustomed to doing things for so long one way, that it's always difficult to rearrange the system so abruptly.  In many instances, people were covered through their employment and most of the time, it was decent coverage.  Then came ACA and a whole lot of new things were mandated to be included and the cost of insurance went up, even for those of us covered at work since we paid a percentage towards our premiums.  Then, when the insurance premiums went up, we still paid the same 12%, but our deductibles went up substantially.  I think if someone is happy with the coverage they had before ACA, they didn't want any changes made.  I do agree that there should be some contingency for those who cannot afford insurance and I do believe in preventive care, but the added cost to the consumer to cover those who couldn't pay or to give credits to those who couldn't pay a full premium, or however that worked, didn't seen to reduce the cost of healthy care for most people.  Yes, you and I can disagree agreeably - we always have.  :)  Happy Monday. :)

Well sweetie today the Senators will supposedly vote.  At least that was McConnell's plan as of yesterday. By the end of the day we will know if they did and what the result was. There may be other things in play in secret that we won't know about. McConnell seems very set on getting something passed and Trump keeps harping on it. i don't do well when I'm badgered. I wonder if enough Senators feel the same? Thank you for your thoughtful reply Spunky! ((hugs)) The hugs are just because I felt like it! I do like talking to you and being in agreement all the time isn't mandatory with us. We can still be not only civil but cordial/friendly! Imagine that?

Well, the vote is in, but it only means they will have a debate about health care.  It is not a vote to repeal and/or replace, so we will see what happens.  I guess those who staunchly rejected whatever was previously put before them gave in simply because it was only going to be the debate.  It remains to be seem what they will vote on if there actually is a plan put forth.

Thanks for the hugs, Rosie and back at ya.  Yes, I enjoy chatting with you even if we disagree.  It's always amicable and I appreciate that.  Happy Tueday. :)